There is one game on the 2022 schedule for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that matters above all others; the matchup against the Rams.
The Buccaneers are a great team. Winning the Super Bowl, keeping Tom Brady on the roster longer than his initial two years, and being able to do well in free agency and the draft classes of 2020 and 2022 should put this team in a great position to compete this season with a difficult schedule.
The biggest issue with this schedule is the likely two matchups against the Rams for the Bucs.
Despite the fact that the box scores would make it seem like these games were close, the Rams have totally and completely outclasses the Bucs three times in the last two years.
There is no team that has Tampa’s number more, expect perhaps for the Saints, but the Bucs were at least able to defeat their division rivals in the playoffs. The Rams are a different story.
Again, box score watchers wouldn’t be able to see it, but anyone who actually watches the games should dread this upcoming matchup more than any other one on the schedule.
There is a large number of reasons to worry about this game. The Rams have a great quarterbacks, excellent wide receivers, and a near-perfect offensive scheme against Tampa when they don’t try to establish the run.
Their defense has three of the best players in the NFL at their respective positions, and they are positions that directly impact Tampa’s ability to throw the ball.
This usually leads to a poor showing from Brady, the team then turns to the run, and then the Bucs collapse on offense.
This story keeps repeating itself as the Buccaneers try to attack this from different angles, but the Rams keep getting better at their strengths.
The game against the L.A. is going to be just as difficult in 2022 as it was during the past two years. This team won the Super Bowl for a reason. The Bucs will need to have this game circled from day one of training camp if they want to finally flip the script and beat this team.
They’ll need to if they want to make it back to the Super Bowl.
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